Kay Cargill Jenkins
Attorney at law
Kay was born in Carlsbad and moved to Roswell with her family when she was 10. She graduated from Goddard High School in 1974 then attended nursing school at New Mexico State University. She obtained an Associates Degree in Nursing in 1977 and a Bachelors Degree in Nursing, with highest honors, in 1986. She attended the University of Texas School of Law, finishing in 1988 with honors. Upon graduation, Kay worked for Kemp Smith, LLP in El Paso, Texas for twenty years then returned to Roswell where she worked for the well-regarded firm of Atwood Malone Turner and Sabin. She began working at the Ragsdale Law Firm in July 2018. She is licensed to practice law in both New Mexico and Texas, is Board Certified in Healthlaw by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization, and has been rated Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent by her peers.
Primary Areas of Practice
Medical Malpractice
Healthlaw
Personal Injury
Education
New Mexico State University ADN 1977, BSN 1986
University of Texas School of Law JD 1988
Honors
Distinguished Alumna, College of Human and Community Services, New Mexico State University 2000, single representative from the College for 2000 Homecoming festivities
Outstanding Alumna, College of Human and Community Services, New Mexico State University 1997, one of one hundred University Alumni chosen as honorees on the occasion of the University’s 100th anniversary
Honors graduate, University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX, July 1988
Highest Honors graduate, New Mexico State University, College of Human and Community Services, May 1986
New Mexico State University Alumni Association Outstanding Senior, College of Human and Community Services, May 1986
Crimson Scholar (3.5 GPA or higher), New Mexico State University, College of Human and Community Services 1982 – 1986, College of Business and Economics 1980 – 1982
Sigma Theta Tau, National Nursing Honor Society, Pi Omega Chapter, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM (charter class member)
Phi Kappa Phi Honorary
With Distinction graduate, New Mexico State University, School of Nursing, 1977
Blue Key National Senior Honorary, New Mexico State University 1976 – 1977 (one of first two women at NMSU inducted into the society)
Outstanding Young Women of America
Outstanding Sophomore Woman, New Mexico State University 1976
Community Affiliations
Roswell Museum and Art Center, Board of Trustees, 2019 – present
Roswell Jazz Festival, Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2019 – present
Cattle Baron Restaurants, Inc., Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2015 – present
Assurance Home Foundation, Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2014 – present
Assurance Home, Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2012 – 2014
College of Human and Community Services, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, Advisory Board of Directors 2009 – 2014
United Bank of El Paso del Norte, El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 2010 – 2012 (first woman Board member), Advisory Board of Directors 2012 – present
University Breast Care Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, Advisory Board of Directors 2002 – 2004, 2008 – 2011, Chair 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010
Planned Parenthood of El Paso, El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 1988 – 2004, President 1998 – 2000, Vice President 1996 – 1998, Secretary 1994 – 1996 and 2002 – 2003
Esperanza House, Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2005 – 2007
American Lung Association, New York, NY, National Council 1999 – 2004
Texas Lung Association, Austin, TX, State Board of Directors 1996 – 2004, Vice Chair 2002-2003, Chair Elect 2004
Visiting Nurse Association of El Paso, El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 2002 – 2004
El Paso Children’s Justice Center, El Paso, TX, pro bono representation of abused/neglected children in placement/parental rights termination proceedings 2000 – 2004
National Kidney Foundation, El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 1990 – 1994, Chair 1994
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA of El Paso), El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 1988 – 1994 (charter Board member)
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure, El Paso, TX, Partner 1997 – 2002
Professional Affiliations
Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, 2013 – 2018
State Bar of New Mexico, 1989 – present
Healthlaw Section Member 2004 – 2009, Section Chair 2007 – 2008, Member 2015 – present
State Bar of Texas, 1988 – present
Healthlaw Section Member 1990 – 2004
Chaves County Bar Association, Roswell, NM, 2004 – 2008, 2011 – present
El Paso County Bar Association, El Paso, TX, 1988 – 2004, 2008 – 2011
Member, Board of Directors 1994 – 1999
El Paso County Women’s Bar Association, El Paso, TX, 1988 – 2004, 2008 – 2011
Board of Directors 1992 – 1998, President, 1993 – 1994
Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
American Bar Association, 1988 – present, Healthlaw Forum Member
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
New Mexico Association of Defense Counsel